Nutrition for Sports

 ONLINE COURSE NUTRITION FOR SPORTS

 

Learn how nutrition relates to sporting performance.
This course details some elements such as energy in the athlete's body, fluids, competition and training diets.  Perfect for the amateur (or professional) sportsman, trainer, coach, or anyone wanting to better manage diet for improved or more appropriate sporting performance.

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Human and Sports Nutrition
2. Energy
3. Energy in the Athlete’s Body
4. The Training Diet
5. The Competition Diet
6. Fluids
7. The Athlete’s Body Composition
8. Weight Management
9. Training for Size and the Use of Sports Supplements

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Display a basic grounding in human nutrition as it relates to sport.
• Understand energy and how energy is produced in the body.
• Explain how energy is utilised in the human body.
• Understand the characteristics of, and to be able to design an effective training diet.
• Design a diet for an athlete.
• Understand the principles of and be able to design an athletic diet for the days leading up to, during and after a competition.
• Explain the importance of fluids in an athletic diet.
• Define the body composition of an athlete, and to become aware of the methods of measuring
  • body composition.
• Examine effective methods for weight reduction and body fat control where they are deemed necessary.
• Examine methods of increasing muscle mass and to assess the use of sports supplements.

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• What are essential nutrients?
• What is the difference between fats and oils?
• Briefly discuss the importance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the human diet.
• Define energy.
• Describe how ATP is converted to energy in the human body.
• What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
• How do actively contracting muscles get more ATP?
• What are the two main sources of ATP for muscles that are performing intense activity?
• Out of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which substances provide the most efficient supply of energy to the human body?
• Which energy sources are used throughout the exercise session?
• Define the following terms:
  • Gluconeogenesis
  • RQ
  • VO2 max
  • TDEE
• Name three things commonly measured during fitness tests.
• Outline the primary differences between the nutritional needs of an athlete and the nutritional needs of members of the general population.
• Design a diet for an athlete.
• Why do athletes need to eat plenty of carbohydrates?
• An athlete has just finished running a half marathon (21km). What advice would you give them to help speed their recovery?
• Why do athletes need more fluid in their diet than the general population?
• What are the signs of dehydration in an athlete?
• Define the following terms:
  • Electrolyte
  • Body water balance
  • Dehydration
  • Hypohydration
  • Euhydration
  • Hyponatremia
• Research three common ways of determining the % of body fat present.
• Discuss the importance of body composition to sporting performance for a sport.
• What is the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat?
• Research one of the eating disorders -
  • anorexia nervosa
  • bulimia nervosa
  • anorexia athletica
• Why would an athlete want to lose weight?
• What are five health risks of being overweight?
• What are the possible benefits of lowered body fat in a sport.
• What is the difference between a dietary supplement and a nutritional ergogenic aid?
• Come up with three suggested meals for an athlete.
• Research the effects of one of the nutritional ergogenic aids.